Of late complaints are being received from the pensioners that PDAs are not revising the pension of Pre-01.01.2006 retiree Armed Forces Pensioners in terms of Got, MoD letter No. 17(01)/2017(01)/D(Pen/Policy) dated 23.01.2018 (circulated vide this office Circular No. 596 dated 09.02.2018) under which method of re-computation of Disability/War Injury Element before applying the multiplication factor of 2.57 has been provided.

In view of the above, PDAs are requested to revise the Disability/War Injury Pension of Pre-01.01.2006 retired Armed Forces Personnel strictly in terms of GoI, MoD letter dated 23.01.2018 till receipt of Corr. PPO based on Notional Pay Fixation method. Cases in which PDAs are facing any difficulty to identify the pensioner, if any, as mentioned at Para 5 of Circular No. 596 dated 09.02.2018, the case may be forwarded to Audit Section of this office. The revision of such cases may be done on priority basis.

It is reiterated that where the disability of the pensioner was assessed as 50% in discharge cases, then it will be rounded to 75% as mentioned in Para -3 of the Circular No. 596. However, if the individual has already been given rounding off benefit through PPO (in invalid out cases) then rounding off benefit in such cases should not be given.

Subject :- Non-acceptance of Nomination Form for Life Time Arrear (LTA).

It has been observed that Pension Payee Scheduled Bank branches are not accepting Nomination Form for “Life Time Arrear” on the pretext that their branch has not received any instructions from their head office.

As per para 23 of the Scheme Booklet on acceptance of Nomination Form for Life Time Arrears provides that where the Nomination for the payment of arrears does not exist then the Authorized Bank will seek instructions of the CPAO, who will in turn, refer the matter to AG/CCA/CA/Dy.CA for obtaining the requisite sanction of Head of the Office. As such, the claimant can also approach the Head of Office where the pensioner served before his/her retirement/ death.

Moreover para 4.5.7 of the Scheme Booklet clearly states that “CPPCs may ensure that the responsibilities assigned to Home Branches are enforced so that the pensioners are not redirected to CPPC for redressal of grievances and information needs. Necessary performance measures and monitoring mechanisms, in co-ordination with the respective administrative structures to achieve the desired level of service delivery in Home Branches as well as CPPCs may be instituted by the Bank.”

Subject- Deficiency in providing of services by banks to sick pensioners/family Pensioner.

It has been observed that number of grievances are being received in CPAO regarding deficiency in services rendered by banks to pensioners/family pensioners. Pensioners/ family pensioners especially those who are sick, paralyzed and bedridden are facing problems while withdrawing their money from their respective pensions accounts.

In view of the above, Heads of CPPCs and Heads of Government Business Divisions of all the authorized banks are requested to issue necessary instructions to all the branches to attend these pensioners/family pensioners who are sick, paralyzed and bedridden on priority basis with empathy so that no hardships are caused to the pensioners/ family pensioners.

DOP&PW vide its OM No.45/57/97-P&PW(C) dated-19.12.1997 followed OM No. 4/25/2008-P&PW (D) dated-26.05.2010, OM No. 4/25/2008-P&PW (D) dated 29.11.2014 and OM No. 4/34/2017-P&PW (D) dated-19.07.2017 had introduced the payment of Medical Allowance to those pensioners who were not residing in the areas where no such outdoor facilities are available. An undertaking is required to be submitted by claimants to the effect that they are not residing in the areas where no such outdoor facilities are available. On the basis of this undertaking pension disbursing authorities shall make an entry in regard to grant of medical allowance in the both halves of PPO of the individual concerned and authorise payment of medical allowance. Such an undertaking can be obtained by Bank,Departmental PAO and Treasury, as applicable once every year alongwith other certificates, the pensioner is required to furnish.

As and when grant of medical allowance to a pensioner/family pensioner is authorized by the pension disbursing authority, intimation to this effect shall be sent to the CPAO/concerned Pay & Accounts Office in the prescribed proforma. The payment shall be made to the pensioner by the pension disbursing authority alongwith pension/ family pension of monthly basis.

All Heads of Government Accounts Department and CPPCs are advised to make the payment accordingly alongwith recovery made, if any.

Subject:- Requirements from pensioner for credit of first pension to his/her account by bank.

Attention is invited to CPAO’s OM No.CPAO/Tech/Simplification/2014-15/52 dated- 28.05.2014 whereby it was intimated to all concerned that pensioners were not required to visit the bank to activate their first payment of pension. It was also intimated that undertaking for recovery of excess/over payment of pension had been made a part of PPO. Inspite of these instructions, banks used to insist on pensioners to physically appear in the bank before commencing first payment of pension. Consequently, CPAO had issued instructions vide OM No. CPAO/Tech/Life Certificate/2014-15/99-175 dated-28.07.2014 that banks should not insist on the pensioners to issue life certificate at the time of first credit of pension. They were also advised to identify the pensioner with reference to information already available with bank obtained through KYC at the time of opening of bank account. The above instructions were reiterated by 0M No. CPAO/Tech/Bank Performance/2014-15/45 dated-02.06.2016.

However. it is observed that banks are still insisting upon the pensioners for completion of formalities like submission of life certificate, letter of Undertaking and certificate of non-employment to credit their first payment and other dues to their pension account resulting into inconvenience to the pensioners defeating the very purpose of simplifying the pension procedures.

In view of the above, Heads of CPPCs and Heads of Government Business Divisions of all the banks are advised to ensure that instructions issued by CPAO are followed by CPPCs and paying branches and any inconvenience to pensioners are avoided.

Subject: Timely commencement of family pension in favour of spouse by banks in the event of death of the pensioners.

Attention is invited to this Office OM No. CPAO/Tech/Banks Performance/2015­16/45 dated-02.06.2016[Sl. No. (i) a & (i) b] followed by minutes of the meeting dated­22.08.2016[Para II-(b)] on the above subject whereby Heads of all the CPPCs and Government Business Divisions of the Banks were advised to Commence the family pension to the spouse immediately on receipt of death certificate of the pensioner, proof of spouse age/date of birth and undertaking of recovery of excess payment latest within a month. However, analysis of reports prepared in CPAO regarding time taken in conversion of pension to family pension in favour of spouse of deceased pensioners shows inordinate delay in many cases. The details of these cases are available in CPPC logins on http://eppo.nic.in.

In view of the above, Heads of CPPCs and Government Business Divisions of the banks are advised to review the attached delay report and ensure compliance of the above instructions and submit the status report to CPAO along with reasons for delay by 8th March, 2017 positively by e-mail at vijay.17@gov.in